S.C. Supreme Court Rules State Owes School Districts Money

(AP) A South Carolina senator says a ruling by the state Supreme Court would take a multi-million-dollar chunk out of a state budget already hemorrhaging money.  Attorneys for six school districts say the high court’s 3-2 ruling means the state must reimburse the districts roughly $6 million yearly under a 2006 law that took school operating costs off owner-occupied homes. The Department of Revenue argued the law that swapped some property taxes for a higher state sales tax excluded construction debt.  But the court ruled that exclusion doesn’t apply to districts’ complicated rent-to-own funding for school renovation and construction.  Republican Sen. Larry Martin of Pickens said Thursday he fears other districts will apply for similar reimbursements and could cripple the state.